VOCABULARY #9

aficionado: a person who likes and knows a lot about something
Any wine aficionado can tell the difference between Pinot Noir and Sauvignon simply by tasting it.

browbeat: to use threats or angry speech to make (someone) do or accept something
Instead of hitting or spanking their children, the parents browbeat them into obedience. 

commensurate: equal or similar to something in size, amount, or degree
I want to go to a University that is commensurate to my intellect and caliber.

diaphanous: (esp. of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent.
Her silk top was rather diaphanous; you could see right through it.

emolument: a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office.
His emolument from his minimum wage job was not enough to support him from month-to-month. 

foray :a sudden attack or incursion into enemy territory, esp. to obtain something; a raid.
The foray on bin Laden's compound by SEAL Team Six proved a success as they were able to kill him.

genre: a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content
My favorite genre of literature is dystopian.

homily :A tedious moralizing lecture or admonition.
When John got caught smoking marijuana, he received a long winded homily from his parents.

immure: enclose or confine (someone) against their will.

Ariel Castro immured three young women inside his basement for nearly a decade.

insouciant: showing a casual lack of concern; indifferent.
While everyone around him was stressing out and worrying over the potential collapse of the market, he seemed rather careless and insouciant. 

matrix: something within or from which something else originates, develops, or takes form
Freedom of expression is the matrix that many of our natural and human rights originate from.

obsequies: a funeral or burial rite
There were many mourners at the young man's obsequies.

panache:  lots of energy and style
Salespeople should be full of panache if they want to excite people about their product.

persona: an individual's social facade or front

Hamlet had various personas; he was one person with his parents, another with his friends, and yet another one when by himself.

philippic: a bitter attack or denunciation, esp. a verbal one.
The philippic of her opponent left her in tears, asking how can someone be so mean.

prurient: having or encouraging an excessive interest in sexual matters.

Teenagers going through puberty are rather prurient.

sacrosanct: (esp. of a principle, place, or routine) regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with.

Despite the fact that the sacrosanct Buddhas of Bamiwam were listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, the Taliban still obliterated them.

systemic: of or relating to a system, esp. as opposed to a particular part.
Corruption in our government is a systemic problem; it cannot be confined to an individual.

tendentious: expressing or intending to promote a particular cause or point of view, esp. a controversial one.
The presidential candidate was so dogmatic and tendentious that he left voters in the middle of the political spectrum alienated. 

vicissitude: a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.